Optical probe having and methods for uniform light irradiation and/or light collection over a volume
US6332092A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 8, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 8, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B23/2469
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A variety of optical probes and optical methods have utility in the examination of various materials, especially materials in the interior of cavities having restricted access through orifices or passageways. An optical probe useful, for example, in examining the epithelia and other tissues of anatomical structures within the body cavities and tubular organs and viscera of mammals is elongated and includes an optical window (240, 302, 1002), a light source (222, 312, 314, 510, 520, 1020, 1200, 1400, 1700), a spatial mixer (224, 304, 2004, 2104, 2204, 2304), and a light collector (210, 320, 720, 1120). The light from the light source is mixed in the spatial mixer, thereby removing any reflected images and irradiation artifacts to achieving uniform diffuse light in the vicinity of the optical window. The light collector receives light from the target through the spatial mixer, but the field of view of the light collector excludes any residual reflections and fluorescence from the spatial mixer. The optical probe may be made of two sections, a reusable section and a disposable section. Disposables (910, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300) suitable for use with the reusable probe section (900) are…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.